The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is still a popular smartphone even after years, but many users are faced with annoying screensavers: banner ads on the lock screen, the MIUI logo when booting or forced wallpaper from the system. In this article, we will analyze all possible types of screensavers on the Redmi Note 8 and how to remove them – from standard settings to deep firmware modifications.
It is important to understand that by “saversavers” users often mean different things: it can be a lock screen with advertising (in regional firmware), a logo. MIUI When you turn on (bootanimation), or even the background process that resets the wallpaper on the desktop. We will look at solutions for each case, including methods without any problems. ROOT And with it, we'll focus on the nuances of firmware. MIUI 12–14, as screensaver algorithms changed with updates.
If you're not sure what type of screensaver you're concerned about, you can flip through the FAQ section -- there are visual examples and descriptions. For experienced users, unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware gives you maximum freedom, but it requires caution. Let's start with the simplest and safest methods.
What are the screensavers on the Redmi Note 8 and how to distinguish them
Before you remove the screensaver, you need to clearly understand what exactly you are dealing with. On the Redmi Note 8, there are 4 main types of "obtrusive" screens:
- 📱 Lock screen ads are banners or app recommendations that appear when unlocked, most commonly found in firmware for India (MIUI INDIA) or global versions with services MSA (Mobile Services Association).
- 🔄 Logo. MIUI when downloading – animation with the inscription “Redmi” or «MIUI» When you turn on your phone, it's bootanimation, which you can replace or disable.
- 🖼️ Forced wallpaper – the system automatically installs background images on the desktop or lock screen (for example, after updating).
- 🔒 Password screensaver/PIN-If you have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN, And the phone needs to be unlocked. That's a separate topic that we're going to touch on at the end of this article.
The most common user complaints are related to the reklama on the lock screen and the MIUI logo. The first case is solved by disabling MSA services, the second one requires tampering with system files. Below we will discuss each scenario in detail.
How to remove ads on the lock screen without ROOT
Banner ads on the lock screen are one of the most annoying MIUI features, especially in firmware in Asia, which are relatively simple to remove, but the algorithm depends on the MIUI version and regional build. Below is a universal instruction manual for the Redmi Note 8 on MIUI 12-14.
The first step is to turn off personalized ads in your settings.
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Advertising services.
- Turn off the slider Personalized advertising recommendations.
- Click Reset Advertising ID (if there is one).
If the ads are still there, they're embedded in the system applications, and then you have to turn off the MSA, the service that displays banners, in two ways:
☑️ Shutdown MSA on the Redmi Note 8
- 🔧 Through Application Settings: Open Settings → Annexes → Application management. Search for MSA or GetApps. Select the app and click Disable (don't delete it!).Reboot the phone.
Through ADB (for Advanced)
If the shutdown through the menu didn’t help, you can block the MSA with ADB. Connect your phone to your PC, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB) and execute the command:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolutionAfter that, the ads should disappear. If not, check to see if you have third-party launchers or themes that banners can show, for example, MIUI Global sometimes adds its ad units.
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If some system features (such as weather on the lock screen) stop working after the MSA is disabled, try disabling only individual permissions for the application, not the entire application.
How to remove the MIUI logo when booting
The MIUI or Redmi logo that appears when you turn on your phone is in the bootanimation.zip system file. You can't delete it without ROOT, but there are workarounds. Let's look at both.
Method 1: Replace bootanimation via Magisk (ROOT required)
If you already have ROOT-Magisk is installed, the process of replacing the logo will take 5 minutes:
- Download any bootanimation.zip for the Redmi Note 8 (screen resolution 2340×1080). Popular sources: XDA Developers or 4PDA.
- With Root Explorer (or any file manager with ROOT), go to /system/media/.
- Rename the original file bootanimation.zip into bootanimation_bak.zip (kickback).
- Copy the new bootanimation.zip into this folder.
- Set the license 644 (rw-r-----).
- Reboot the phone.
If the animations are unchanged, check if your firmware supports custom bootanimation. On some versions of MIUI 14, this file is ignored, and the logo is spelled out in qboot (only firmware will help).
Method 2: Install custom firmware (without logo)
If you don't have a ROOT, and the logo is annoying, the radical solution is to reflash the phone to custom firmware (like the Pixel Experience or LineageOS), which doesn't have a MIUI binding, and therefore no logo when it's booted, but this method requires:
- 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (officially via Mi Unlock Tool).
- 📥 Installations TWRP (custom recovery).
- 🛠️ Ability to work with fastboot and ADB.
Detailed instructions on the Redmi Note 8 firmware can be found on 4PDA or XDA. Note: unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the phone, so back up in advance.
What happens if you don’t send bootanimation correctly?
How to turn off automatic wallpaper change
If your Redmi Note 8 is changing the wallpaper on your desktop or lock screen, MIUI Themes is to blame, and it can set “recommended” themes after updates or when you connect to the Internet.
- Open the Settings → Wallpaper.
- Select Static Wallpaper (not “Live Wallpaper” or “Themes”).
- Click More → Wallpaper Settings and turn off the option Automatic wallpaper update.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find Themes and turn off auto-start.
If the wallpaper changes anyway, check to see if you have third-party apps like Zedge or WallpapersCraft that have the right to change the backgrounds, and some launchers (like Nova Launcher) can reset the wallpaper when you upgrade.
For full control:
- 🔒 Disable the App Store permission themes and Change system settings.
- 📵 In Settings → Battery and productivity → Autorun Manage disable autorun for Themes and GetApps.
What to do if the screensaver is a locked screen (forgot the password)
If by "savers" you mean a lock screen that requires you to enter a PIN, a pattern lock or a password that you forgot, then this is a separate story. There are several ways to unlock on the Redmi Note 8, but they all have limitations:
| Method | Required. | Cons | Data dump? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the Mi Account. | A Linked Xiaomi Account | It only works if Find Device has been enabled before. | No. |
| Reset via Recovery | Access to Fastboot or Recovery | Deletes all data on the phone | Yes. |
| ADB (if debugging was included) | PC, cable, enabled Debugging over USB | It only works if the debugging has been activated before the lock. | No. |
| Passage EDL-regime | Special cable, Mi Flash software | Hard for beginners, risk of "bricking" | Yes. |
The most reliable way is to unlock through Mi Account:
- Go to i.mi.com and log in.
- Choose Find Device → Unlock the screen.
- Confirm the action via SMS or email.
If your Xiaomi account is not tied or you don’t remember the login details, you only have to reset via Recovery:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press Power + Volume up until the MIUI logo appears.
- Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
- Confirm the reset.
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If the phone has enabled BitLocker, a reset via Recovery can make it impossible to restore files even after unlocking, in which case only a complete firmware reflash will help.
Additional settings for full control of the screensavers
To forget about the annoying screensavers on Redmi Note 8, we recommend you to perform a few additional actions:
- Shut down services. MIUI: 📵 Settings → Privacy → Special permits → Services MIUI → Turn it off. 🔍 Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Press 7 times on the version MIUI, Then in Developer Settings, turn off Optimization. MIUI.
Remove unnecessary system applications (with ROOT):
Titanium Backup or ADB can be used to remove:
com.miui.weather2 (Weather)
com.xiaomi.joyose (Music)
com.miui.videoplayer (Videoplayer)
com.miui.player (Player)These apps often show ads or change wallpaper.
Use an alternative launcher:
Install Nova Launcher or Lawnchair – they block system changes to wallpaper and ads.
For users who want maximum customization, we recommend that you consider installing a custom kernel (for example, FrancoKernel) or firmware based on Android One. This completely removes all the “chips” of MIUI, including screensavers.
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Before uninstalling system applications via ADB or ROOT, make sure to back up to TWRP. Some applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) are critical to the system.
FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 8 screensaver
Why does the MSA shutdown still show up?
Can I remove the MIUI logo without ROOT?
After resetting via Recovery, the phone requires an old password.
How do I get back a standard screensaver if something goes wrong?
Is it true that turning off screensavers impairs productivity?
If your question is not covered in the article, please specify the details in the comments: specify the MIUI version, the firmware region (Global/China/India) and the type of screensaver (advertisements, logo, wallpaper).